Hey Guys and Gals, I'm new to the forum. Great job though I had been surfing hard for some info. I think the applicant pool is going to be very strong, but that a higher percentage of students will be admitted from this pool than from a normal HBS pool. I can't see THAT many kids applying to this program in its first year. Obviously it's a Harvard program and they're going to get a lot of applicants. My dad read the article in the WSJ, but it went unnoticed by many I think.
Also, it is anyone's guess as to what they're looking for. They're obviously trying to diversify their MBA program through the 2+2. This means anything that sets you apart from a normal business school student will help. For example, a very high score on the verbal section of the GMAT would be good because they're used to seeing much higher math scores. I also think that they're looking for students who would want to use their MBA in a field other than business.
I haven't done the research that most of you have done, these are just some opinions I formed during the application process. I really hope I get an interview. I felt there was a lot about me missing from the application because of its length. Good luck to all.